Let’s Re-open a Sustainable Circular Society is a community-driven programme including four main events. At the heart of it being the
Global Virtual Innovation Sprint.
Our goal is to inspire partnerships and projects for long-term perspectives.





To participate in the Virtual Innovation Sprint, you must complete the registration form by August 26th, 11.59 PM Central European Summer Time (CEST).

Thursday, August 13th
Kick-Off Webinar
How can universities support a Re-opening of a Sustainable Circular Society.
Companies and organisations pitch their challenge briefs. Circular Economy is explained and detailed by university experts. Talks on how universities can support a re-opening of a Sustainable Circular Society. You will leave with an extended toolbox and best-practice examples.
Information on how to access the virtual space will be granted when you have signed up.
This virtual event provides a deep dive into the three tracks with a challenge-brief pitch from each of the 8 challenge-track partners. Unique opportunity for you to ask questions directly to the challenge-owners and to the organizing team. | |
11.15-11.30 (15 min) | Introduction to the Virtual Innovation Sprint |
11.30-11.50 (20 min) | Keynote: Olivier Corradi, Founder CEO, Tomorrow |
11.50-12.00 (10 min) | Break & QnA in the Chat |
12.00-13.00 (60 min) | Challenge Pitch from Partners (Bring your own lunch) |
Track 1: Green Transition Challenge Brief: Alfa Laval // Henrik Røssel, Head of Innovation House Alfa Laval. Download Slides from Alfa Laval’s session Challenge Brief: Novo Nordisk // Stine Platou Mikkelsen. Download Slides from Novo Nordisk’s session Challenge Brief: Science City Lyngby (VidensByen) // Marianna Lubanskji, CEO of Science City | |
Track 2: New Cities & Neighbourhoods Challenge Brief: Lendager TCW // Ditte Lysdgaard Vind, Managing Partner, Lendager Group Download Slides from Lendager’s Session Challenge Brief: Nilfisk & Novozymes (HelloScience) // Download Slides from Hello Science Session Challenge Brief: Rambøll // | |
Track 3: Future of Work Challenge Brief: World Congress of Architects 2023 Copenhagen // ANNETTE BLEGVAD, CEO, UIA Download Slides from Annette’s Session Challenge Brief: ESA BIC //Sune Nordentoft Lauritsen, Managing Director | |
13.00-13.10 (10 min) | Q&A & Next Steps |
Circular Economy is explained and detailed by university experts. Talks on how universities can support a re-opening of a sustainable circular society. You will leave with an extended toolbox and best-practice examples. [Information on how to access the virtual space will be granted when you have signed up. | |
13.30-13.40 (10 min) | Introduction & Setting the Stage |
13.40-13.55 (15 min) | Jason Li-Ying Professor, Centre for Technology Entrepreneurship, DTU Entrepreneurship |
13.55-14.05 | Professor, Section for Engineering Design and Construction. DTU Mechanical Engineering. Professor Tim McAloone’s presentation will focus a Circular economy, in particular, where to start at how to accelerate your transition? This presentation will stress the importance for companies to assess their current readiness to transition to a circular economy, before choosing a direction. A framework for readiness assessment will be presented, together with a catalogue of science-based tools, created in collaboration with hundreds of Nordic companies, in the MATChE and CIRCit research projects. |
14.05-14.15 | Michael Zwicky Hauschild Professor Michael’s presentation will take a dive into a circular economy – where is the sustainability? While Circular economy comprises a range of different approaches, a strong emphasis has been on the closing of material loops through enhancing recycling of materials but it takes a life cycle perspective to understand when it is more sustainable and an absolute perspective to see whether it contributes to a society that is sustainable? The talk will introduce the courses in lifecycle-based SDG assessment that are now mandatory for bachelor students and PhD students at DTU. |
14.15-14.25 | Kirsten Gram-Hanssen In her presentation, Professor Kristen will address the dilemma of Efficient technologies or end-user behaviour, which is more important in a circular economy? The talk presents new technology and consumer roles with a focus on energy and argues why we should always understand and develop new technological solutions based on knowledge and insight on how these technologies are used in real life. Download Slides from Professor Kirsten Gram-Hanssen’s session |
14.25-14.35 | Jesper Holm Associate Professor Jesper’s presentation will pay attention to examples from my own research and co-working with students where universities did play a role in making an effort of change towards a sustainable circular economy. How did students participate here? How to identify openings for change towards a sustainable circular economy in niches or regimes? |
14.35-14.45 | Thomas Fruergaard Astrup In his presentation, Professor Thomas Astrup will address how Circular Economy is about maintaining and utilizing our resources best as possible while ensuring minimum impacts on surroundings. Understanding new solutions from the perspective of resource flows, contaminant spreading, emissions and sustainability is critical. |
14.45-14.55 | Associate Professor, Management Control, CBS In her presentation, Associate Professor Cristiana Parisi, will focus on Urban Circular Economy: how can we enable the transition towards circular and regenerative cities? Cities are complex networks of interrelated actors whose task is to achieve challenging goals that range from efficiency to social and environmental impact and circularity. Based on the project REFLOW, this talk will present the model developed to perform the circular transition of six European cities, ranging from small-town to capital cities. It will present the key building blocks implemented as well as the challenges and opportunities linked to an urban circular economy. The university as a sector and its urgency in a transition to Circular Economy. |
14.55-15.10 | Next Steps |

Thursday, August 27th, 2020.
TEAM FORMATION
Team formation and kick-off co-creation and collaboration. Join this day and set your team for the Virtual Innovation Sprint. Based on your profile and preferences, we match the teams.
[Information on how to access the virtual space will be granted when you have signed up. | |
09.00 (20min) | Setting the Scene & Introduction (Skylab-Studio) |
09.20 (30 min) | Submit your profile (your space) DEADLINE for your personal Profile Submission 9.30 CEST |
09.30-10.00 (30 min) | Talk #1: Collaboration & Creativity (Skylab-studio) Bo Krüger, Founder, Moving Minds |
10.00-10.10 (10 min) | How to Best Use the Virtual Co-lab Space (Skylab-Studio) An introduction to the main spaces for the Virtual Innovation Sprint. |
10.10 (5 min) | Call-to-action: Team formation warm-up activity (Skylab-studio) Preparation for next session. |
10.15 (10 min) | Participant warm-up activity (your space) Get ready to meet your team. |
10.25 (10 min) | Break your space. |
10.35 (5 min) | Announcements of teams (Skylab-studio) We reveal your teammates. |
10.40 (10 min) | Wayfinding – transition (Slack) Find your way to your virtual team space. |
10.50 (45 min) | Team meet-up & networking exercise (Team space) Get to know your team. |
11.35 (10 min) | Call-to-action: Introduction to team-meet-ups (Skylab-studio) |
11.45 (60 min) | Team-meet-up: Deep dive and select your challenge(s) (Team space) |
12.45 (15 min) | Team-meet-up: Complete and submit your team form (Team space) |
13.00 | DEADLINE: Team Submission & Shout out 13.00 CEST Submission of Team Form & claim your fame! |

Friday-Sunday
August 28th-30th
Virtual Innovation Sprint
Team development in a dedicated virtual innovation co-lab space. Close sparring from Track mentors, skill mentors and team-coaches. Facilitation with key support throughout the weekend.
Kick-off for the virtual innovation sprint. In-depth challenge pitches and Q&A’s. Sprinting in close sparring from Track mentors, skill mentors and team-coaches. Facilitation with key support throughout the weekend. | |
08.30 (30 min) | Morning Wakeup – GROOVE DANCE with Signe Frydenlund from Danseglad Find a spot for your computer with physical space for your dance moves. |
09.00 (5 min) | Welcome (Skylab-studio) Mikkel Sørensen, Head of DTU Skylab |
09.10 (25 min) | Call-to-action: Setting the Scene (Skylab-studio) Sprint facilitators |
09.30 (15 min) | Talk 2#: How to get the best sprint! (Skylab-studio) Zivile Einikyte – Start-up lead TechBBQ. (former co-organiser of EUvsVIRUS hack) |
09.45 (15 min) | Talk 3#: Katherine Richardson – Professor, Center for Macroecology, Evolution & Climate, University of Copenhagen (Skylab-studio) Katherine Richardson DTU Virtual Innovation Sprint Presentation |
10.00 (10 min) | Call to action – introduction to next session (Skylab-studio) Sprint facilitators |
10.10 (10 min) | Break |
10.20 (20 min) | Team-break-out: Prepare your questions to the challenge owners (Team space) |
10.40 (30 min) | Challenge deep-dive sessions (Skylab-studio) |
11.10 (20 min) | Direct Q&A with challenge owners (Slack) Find the Slack challenge channel for Q&A directly with challenge owners and track mentors. |
11.30 (10 min) | Reflections and questions to challenge owners. (Skylab-studio) Q&A from Sprint facilitators live. |
11.40 (20 min) | Direct Q&A continues on challenge slack channels (Slack) Find the Slack challenge channel for Q&A directly with challenge owners and track mentors. |
12.00 (30 min) | Break (with your space) Stretch your legs and get refreshments (lunch). |
12.30 (15 min) | Call-to-action: Circular economy & Sprint boost (Skylab-studio) Tools and practices |
12.45 (3h 15 min) | Sprinting: Development in the Teams & Mentoring Sessions. |
16.00 (15 min) | Talk#4: TBD |
16.20 (15 min) | Call-to-action: Sprint boost (Skylab-studio) |
16.45 (1h 45 min) | Sprinting: Development in the Teams & Mentoring Sessions (Team space) |
18.30 (30min) | Break: (within your space) Stretch your legs and get refreshments or grab dinner. |
19.00 (180 min) | Sprinting: Development in the Teams & Mentoring Sessions (Team space) |
22.00 (15 min) | Goodnight (Skylab-studio) Stretch & Closing the Day |
SATURDAY PROGRAM | |
08.30 (30 min) | Morning Wake up Yoga with Ann Benedikte (Skylab-studio) |
09.00 (15 min) | Call-to-action: Innovation Sprint Boost (Skylab Studio) |
09.15 (2h 45 min) | Sprinting: Development in the Teams & Mentoring Sessions (Team space) 10:00 DEADLINE: Share your challenge-scope on Slack |
11.30 (5 min) | Call-to-action: Team feedback and knowledge sharing (Skylab-studio) Sprint facilitators |
Garden Peer2peer (Designated zoom garden spaces) Knowledge share and provide sparring. | |
(30min) | Break (with your space) Stretch your legs and get some refreshments and lunch. |
12.30 (15 min) | [CANCELED] // Call-to-action: Sprint boost (Skylab-studio) Sprint facilitators |
12.45 (15 min) | Talk #5: Total Societal Impact with Matias Pollmann-Larsen, Partner, Boston Consulting Group |
13.00 (3h 30min) | Sprinting: Development in the Teams & Mentoring Sessions (Team space) |
17.00 (20 min) | Call-to-action: Sprint boost (Skylab-studio) Sprint facilitators |
17.20 (4h 40min) | Sprinting: Development in the Teams & Mentoring Sessions |
22.00 (15 min) | Skylab Goodnight Notes (Slack) (Skylab-studio) Stretch & Closing the Day |
SUNDAY PROGRAM | |
08.30 (30 min) | Morning Wakeup // Singing in the day (Skylab-studio) Including DTU Skylab band jam (Mikkel Sørensen, Head of DTU Skylab on Guitar) |
09.00 (15 min) | Call-to-action: Sprint boost (Skylab-studio) Sprint facilitators |
09.15 (2h 45min | Sprinting: Development in the Teams & Mentoring Sessions (Team space) |
12.00 (30 min) | Break (with your space) Stretch your legs and get refreshments or lunch. |
12.30 (30 min) | MOVED TO LATER //Hotline in-studio – help to access the blog for IDEA upload |
13.00 (2h) | Sprinting: Development in the Teams & Mentoring Sessions (Team space) 15:00 DEADLINE: UPLOAD IDEA (on the blog page) |
15.15 (45 min) | Talk #6: Get your pitch ready (Skylab-studio) with Bo Krüger, Founder, Moving Minds |
15.45 (15 min) | Call-to-action: Sprint boost (Skylab-studio) Sprint facilitators |
16.00 (30 min) | Garden Peer2Peer (Designated Zoom garden spaces) |
16.30 | Sprinting (Team Space) |
(30 min) | Break (with your space) Stretch your legs and get refreshments or dinner. |
19.00 (20 min) | Call-to-action & Celebration (Skylab-studio) Sprint facilitators |
19.20 (2h 40 min) | Sprinting: Development in the Teams & Mentoring Sessions (Team space) |
22.00 | Skylab Good Night Notes (Slack) |

Thursday, September 10th
Award Ceremony
A Virtual Event: An opportunity to highlight promising projects from the Virtual Innovation Sprint
Facilitation and moderator by: Frederik van Deurs Green Innovation.
Judges for the Finals:
Lykke Margot, Associate professor (SDU)
Christine Ipsen, Associate professor (DTU Management)
Carina Lomberg, Associate professor (DTU Entrepreneurship)
Jakob Svagin, Team Lead (DTU Skylab)
Liva Echwald-Tjisen, Founder TrædFrem (StepForward)
[You can access the event via this [link] | |
17.00 (5 min) | Welcome By Frederik Van Deurs, CEO Green Innovation Group, the moderator and facilitator |
17.05 | Welcome & Opening By Marianne Thellersen, Senior Vice President, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, DTU |
17.10 (10 min) | Virtual Innovation sprint – Setting the stage & storytelling (Krestine Mougaard & Marie Pollmann-Larsen Virtual Innovation Sprint Facilitators, DTU Skylab) |
17.20 | Talk: Anne Paulin, Politician and member of the cross-party network on the SDGs in parliament of Denmark |
17.30 | Pitch session Part 1 Teams from the tracks: Green Transition and New Cities, pitch their solutions live followed by QnA from the jury panel (3 min pitch + 4 QnA) TEAM 1 // Green Transition |
18.10 | Break Stretch legs and get refreshments |
18.35 | Pitch session Part 2 Teams from the tracks: Future of Works and the wildcard, pitch their solutions live followed by QnA from the jury panel (3 min pitch + 4 QnA) TEAM 6 // Future of Works |
19.10 (10 min) | Break + Audience Vote Audience Vote. |
19.20 (30 min) | Panel Debate (Judges find the winners) Pitch // Christian Thuesen, Associate professor, DTU Management (5 min) |
19.50 (10 min) | Announcement of winners Track winner: Green Transition (20.000 dkk) |
20.00… | Celebration & Singing |
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Acceleration
DATE TBD
Four dedicated network events (one for each track) will be launched to support further community building and continuation of the projects submitted.
Programme coming soon.